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Architect Fights for His Home

Lewis Mumford wrote that, in a city, “time becomes visible.” Not, it would appear, in Raleigh, North Carolina, where a city board has just decided that a rather discreet and understated modern house might need to be torn down because it damages the ambience of a historic district, which is to say it destroys the illusion that the neighborhood is a place in which time has stopped.
— Vanity Fair

A battle of bureaucracy and "historic preservation" is playing out in a Raleigh, NC neighborhood. Louis Cherry, FAIA, is building his own home in the Oakwood neighborhood of Raleigh. After having received approval for his design by relevant city agencies, including the Raleigh Historic Development Commission who oversees the Oakwood Historic District, construction proceeded in the vacant lot Cherry purchased. Gail Wiesner, his neighbor, has since led a charge to halt its construction filing an appeal with the local Board of Adjustment, who oversee procedure of local public agencies. Voting 3-2, the board found that the RHDC's decision had “no rational basis” and the Building Permit was rescinded.

I've been following this for awhile and this whole story makes me sick to my stomach. Some busybody neighbor - whose house is only a few years old AND is ugly crap - decides she's in charge of the neighborhood and wants to force everyone to follow her taste. In the process she forced the neighborhood to pick sides, thus destroying the sense of community she thinks her ugly house upholds. The landowners who followed the law now see their very expensive investment at risk. It's despicable.

We don't have historic districts - despite being one of the oldest communities in the US. Instead we have Architectural Review Boards, populated by housewives and busybodies. It's a conflict of interest to have a professional (architect or builder) on the board.

Overly rich owners just do whatever they want and have their layers sort it out later. The penalty for demolishing a 200 year old house without a permit? $100.

If your going to build in a historic district, you should probably look into the local regulations, but whatever the particular history here, I'm always amazed that the municipality dosen't back up the home owners. When doing an addition in an historic DC neighborhood, they want you to be sympathetic but not immitative. That's what this house looks like to me.

Not sure why you think this is "only in the south." I grew up in the south, and have lived in New York City for 8 years. NIMBY's are much worse up here. The also have more power, and they affect much more prominent buildings.